Mechanical dancing figure



Nov. 27 1923 F. WATSON MECHANICAL DANCING FIGURE Filed Sept. 14. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "if" p Inventor 4 A ttorney Nov. 27 1923 F. WATSCN MECHANICAL DANCING FIGURE Filed Sept. 14. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet Attorfify Patented Nov. .27, 1923..

PATENT QEFICE.

FRANK warson, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL DANCING FIGURE.

Application filed September 14, 1921. Serial No. 500,533,

To 11?] whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, FRANK lVATsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and Common- \veaithof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I lianical Dancing Figures, of which the foiimving is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others versed in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

v invention relates to mechanical danc- -i .zgures and more particularly to the type de.-.igned for use upon phonographs orothcr iiiotoi' driren instruments, and has for its purpose: i i

i. To roduce a. dancing figure which Will roll. tap, shuttle, and beat the stage ina manner natural to life, and conforming to stancard musical rhythn'is.

i To provide an improved dancing figure self-contained and alwaysready for use without alteration or adjustment.

3. To provide an improved combination base and rotating timing piece.

4. To provide an improved adjustable tripod mounting. i

5. vibrating figure.

6. To provide an improved auxiliary dancing figure and self contained equipment adaptable for useon cabinet phonographs without screws or other disfiguring attachments. 1

I accomplish the purposes of my invention :is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, shows aside view of my device assembled.

Figure- 2, shows a front view of my device. Figure 3, shows a top view of my oscillating stage. Figure 4 shows a top view of my base. Figure 5 shows my device placed for use upon an ordinary cabinet phonograph.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring again to Figure 1, A shows the supporting base. B shows the mounting block which supports the oscillating stage, C, over the end of which at C is suspended the dancing figure, D. The arms, E, are hinged at the shoulders, E, so as to be free for swinging as the body assumes varying dancing positions. The legs of the figure,

supporting means for the dancing To provide animproved flexible and F, are also hinged atthe hips, E, and. at theknees, F soas to likewiseallow the legs. to freely assume varyingpositions.

Theibase, A, at its free end is provided; with a round hole through which extends a shaft, G, of the timing, cam, G, G G3,

and G, are projections extending upward.

from the body ofthe. cam, G, which projections asthe camrotates contactwith the timing vibrator, H, secured to the-underside of theiloose end of the. stage at apoint over which is positioned the. dancing figure- As the timing cam rotates, the stage is autos, matically raised andilowered by the projection s, G G andG acting-alternatelyon.

the vibrator, H. It-willbe seen that. aseachprojection, G G-?, and G respectively approaches and passeszunder thetiming. vibrator, H, a rythmatic up anddownmovement is given to the stage, J, thetime. being governed by the rotating speed of the cam, G.

Thefigure proper is'supported, from its shoulders, on a wire standard, I, which passes down and through an orifice, J, in the stage, C, to EL P IQPELIGCl-IGCiBlViDg cavity, K, in the base board, A. The. cavity, K, is formed to receive theL sha ed terminal, L, of the, supporting w-ire I. I

cavity by the securing button, M, Which merely operates tohold the supporting Wire at its: end, thus allowin free action of the Wire in; that portion, K of; the cavity, K, which lies parallel to the faceof. thebase. board, A. This freedom ofthe supporting wire, I, in the cavity, K, allows sufiicient play for the wire, to result ina natural up and down motion of thebody ofthe dancing figure. As the. stage strikes the bottom of its feet, the limbs and body proper are afforded natural and rythmatic motions known to human dancing and heretoforeso much desired in dancing-figures.

It'will be noted that: while the mechanism, by means of which the stage is raisedand lowered, makes the rise of the stage gradual, its descent is sudden and precipitous.

drop gives a special vim and activity to the dancer, causing it to roll, tap, shuflie and beat the stage in a manner natural to life and conforming to standard musical rhythm.

The vacuum cups under the two outer he supporting wire is held-upright in positioirwithin the.

g The gradual rise gives to the dancingfigure a gliding movement, whlle the prec pitous supports, combined with the stage upon which the figure dances, create a drum head effect, whereby the sound taps of the dancing feet are much intensified and more clearly articulated, this producing added attractiveness o clog dancing.

My device may conveniently be used in connection with a disc phonograph, or any similar device having a motor shaft over which snugly fits the orifice, N, extending through the timing'cam, G, so as to givea rotating movement to the timing camas the motor shaft revolves. Beneath the mounting block, B, are two supporting studs, 0 and Q, on the ends of which .are pliable vacuum cups, P andP, which when positioned on a smooth or finished surface securely hold the base of my device and prevent rotation of the same. The cups, P and P, are movable on the studs, 0 and 0, so as to shorten or lengthen the supports to conform to varying heights on different machines.

Having thus. described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America- 1. A device of the character described comprising a supporting base including an oscillatable platform or dancing stage, a jointed dancing figure, means for vibrating the stage for contact with the said figure and suspension means supporting the figure over the said stage and permitting flexible up and down movement of the figure, said means in cluding a flexible figure-supporting wire having a lower L-shaped terminal engaged in a cavity in the said base and a securing button pivoted to the base for engagement over the said terminal to hold the wire in position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base member, an oscillating platform or stage mounted thereon, a jointed dancing figure, means carried by the base member and supporting the figure in suspension over the said stage to permit fiexible up and down movement of the figure when the stage is vibrated, means operable to vibrate the said stage so that the latter is caused to have a gradually upward movement and a precipitous descent imparting a gliding movement and a vim to the dancer, causing it to. roll, tap, shufiie andbeat upon the stage in a manner natural to life and conforming to standard musical rhythm, and supporting means carried by the said base member for stabilizing the device when in operation and including vacuum cups itensifying the sound beats of the danclng figure upon the stage.

3. A device of the character described comprising a base member, an oscillating stage supported thereon, a jointed dancing figure suspended over the said stage to be actuated by the vibration of the stage into intermittent contact therewith, a rotatable cam member j ournaled in the base member at one end thereof and presenting an orifice to accommodate a driving element, said cam member having projections extending from the body thereof, a vibrator secured to the under side of the stage above the cam extensions and presenting a depending portion to be successively engaged by the said extensions as the cam rotates for actuating the stage to intermittently contact with the said jointed figure, and means for anchoring the said base member at its other end.

4. A mechanical dancing figure comprising a vibratory dancing stage, a jointed dancing figure suspended over the stage, a vertically depending vibrator secured to the underside of the said stage, and a horizontally rotatable cam positioned below the stage and presenting a series of vertical projections disposed to contact alternately with the said depending vibrator during rotation of the cam, said vibrator and the said projections being provided with co-acting cam faces operating to vibrate the stage with a gradual upward movement and a precipitous descent of the latter.

5. A mechanical dancing figure, for use in connection with a disc phonograph or any similar machine having a motor shaft, comprising a supportng base, a vibratory dancing stage mounted thereon, a jointed dancing figure. suspended over the said stage, means for vibrating the stage into intermittent contact with the said figure including a cam journaled in the said supporting base for engagement over the motor shaftto be rotated thereby, and anchoring means carried by the said base consisting of support ing studs and vacuum cups movable on the studs to raise or lower the base to conform to varying heights on different machines, said cups serving to create a drum-head effect modifying and intensifying the sound beats of the dancing figure upon the said stage.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK WATSON.

Witnesses:

DOROTHY F. BISHOP, CHARLES W. Lovn'r'r. 

